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| Software Overview Integration, Sequencing, Scheduling
|
We firmly believe in the “open architecture” philosophy for all our products and systems. This unrestrictive and vendor-neutral approach gives you the total freedom to choose the best possible combination of hardware, software, and on-going support. We can provide you with anything from a simple DLL to a fully integrated data management control system that is developed and installed by our software development team. We also partner with several 3rd-party laboratory automation software providers for universal system control and scheduling. The discussion below is provided to help explain the different choices available for automated system control. Click here to see an overview of our 3rd-party laboratory automation software providers and their products. |
Choosing
Top-Level Automation Control |
|
| Almost
all automated systems consist of a number of devices (instruments)
that all need to function well together to perform a desired function.
To do this, some sort of "boss" is needed for system management
and control. This is the "top-level automation controller"
and is usually a computer with software and two-way communication
between each instrument. This arrangement provides overall control
and sequencing of the whole integrated system. |
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| 1) Dedicated SW Solution: The first choice we have for top-level system control is a dedicated software solution where the controlling code and graphical user interface (GUI) is written specifically for the application. When we create the code and GUI here at Peak, we typically write the code in Visual Basic 2005 (VB), which uses the .NET framework. It could also be written in JAVA or C++. | |
| The
dedicated SW solution choice is good for the following types of systems:
1) A system with a non changing or fairly simple sequence; 2) A system
where a specific look-and-feel is wanted for the GUI; or 3) When multiple
systems will be built that are all the same, e.g., an OEM system that
is built for a specific function, etc. There are always upfront development costs associated with dedicated solutions but often there is not a lot of follow-on cost afterwards regardless of how many identical systems are built. |
 |
| We
have written many VB applications in the past, usually for unique
systems or to meet the customer's requirement for look-and-feel. This
work can be extensive depending on complexity and special requirements.
|
|
| 2) Third Party Software: The second choice is to use a 3rd party's universal scheduler for the top-level automation control. These schedulers have an easy-to-use graphical interface that is used to create sequences and they also have device drivers for the various instruments. The drivers are pre-written software interfaces for most of the common instruments used in laboratory automation systems. | |
| 3rd
party automation controls are universal software products where the
development is already done. Of course, the specific sequence must
still be created but usually it is straightforward and done in a user-friendly
drag-and-drop environment such as shown at right. We should note that there is a license cost associated with each copy of software used. The license fee covers the cost of maintaining the SW and maintaining the large base of instrument drivers. |
|
| A
3rd party software solution is good for systems needing flexibility
where: 1) the customer wants to change protocols on a regular basis;
or 2) when multiple systems will be built, but each one will have
a different instrument configuration. Normally, the 3rd party supplier
integrates the entire system but this work can also be done by one
of their distributors, including Peak Robotics, or by a capable end
use. Click 3rd party info. More>
|
|
| 3) Customer Development: There is a third choice available and that is for when the customer wants to develop their own control system. This is sometimes done when the customer has the expertise and wants to use something like LabView to do data collection and manipulation. Many of our customers do this and we are happy to provide whatever assistance and documentation may be needed for success. A LabView example is shown at right. |  |
Robot Control Software |
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| DLL: All our products come with a universal DLL. The DLL takes logical commands that we can understand, such as move commands, and turns them into machine language that the motors understand. Although our robot DLL can run stand-alone, normally it runs transparently under a top-level system control program. An ActiveX Control is used with some other instruments in place of the more universal DLL. | |
| DLL Functionality: Our robot DLL is full featured with multiple windows available for performing a variety of tasks, as shown at right. There is a virtual teach pendent window for jogging and teaching end-points. The robot can be jogged in 3 different coordinate systems. The robot's I/O and encoder positions can be queried. A simple multi-step sequencer is also included in the DLL, but for most real-world applications, a top level automation controller should be written or purchased to coordinate all the peripheral instruments as well as the robot. |  |
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Products and Services
Software Overview
Third
Party Software Partners
|
Peak
Robotics, Inc. |
4143
Sinton Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80907 |
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1-719-598-3555 fx
1-719-548-9227 |
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Robotics